Beans, Bullets and Black Oil :: obvert (A) vs Lowpe (J)

[witpqs]

I seem to only get merchants, etc. out of the PI during the intervals where the IJN runs out of ammo and heads to port to rearm. [:(]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

I seem to only get merchants, etc. out of the PI during the intervals where the IJN runs out of ammo and heads to port to rearm. [:(]

He's placed some support ships at Taytay with a group of A6M to protect and provide LR CAP. A good move, and I've got some ideas to counter. The CAs haven't shown up in force yet, and when they do it'll get even more dicey around the Sulu Sea.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 10, 1941[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] A few good things happened on the 10th. At Guam the Cats got heir claws out and and hit CM Tjsugaru and xAK Venice Maru with a few 500 pounders.

Looks like the move to get Lex here in time to thwart an invasion of Guam will be too late unless he gets cold feet.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 10, 41
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 108,92

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PBY-4 Catalina bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 108,92

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-4 Catalina x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Venice Maru, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PBY-4 Catalina bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 10, 1941[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CHINA: [/font] One major action in China, where the Chinese cannot break through at Ichang. They'll immediately move back into the rough and spread a defensive line out there. The AVG gets some practice, flying against Anns at Ichang, and downs a few for no losses.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 10, 41
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Morning Air attack on 67th Chinese Corps, at 83,48 (Ichang)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 12
Ki-30 Ann x 21

Allied aircraft
H81-A3 x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
AVG/3rd Sqn with H81-A3 (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 9000.
Raid is overhead

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Ground combat at Ichang (83,48)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50354 troops, 274 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1422

Defending force 18775 troops, 125 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 643

Allied adjusted assault: 813

Japanese adjusted defense: 831

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 38 (2 destroyed, 36 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1306 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 300 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
67th Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
45th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
26th Group Army

Defending units:
11th RGC Temp. Division
13th Tank Regiment
34th Division
13th RGC Temp. Division

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]FLAK[/font]

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Is this a problem? I've looked all over the Allied map and it seems no base shows a flak score currently. I see black smoke puffs over Pearl during a strike, and some planes do record as flak losses, but not many for the amount of guns there, (~92 3in/50 AA). Two of the Marine units have very good morale, experience and leaders, while the Army units are about 50/50 with poor leaders. Still, I've seen massive losses in stock bombing PH on a day two, and this is DBB, so I expected a lot more form the guns here.

So is the lack of flak counters for the bases a problem or is that standard for a DBB base info screen?

[cardas]

No, you should definitely have some kind of flak score. I'm not entirely sure as to how the flak value is calculated in the base screen, but as an example Pearl Harbour in DBB starts out with a flak value of 56 (barring extra losses in the opening strikes I suppose).

Even with only a relatively small amount of AA the base screen will show a value above 0. As an example of that I'll take Oosthaven. At the start of the game there's only a small Dutch base force there with 2x 20mm Rheinmetall AA and 4x 7.7mm AAMG sect. That's enough for a base screen flak value of 1.

No clue as to what's causing the issue for you though.

[obvert]

interesting. All of my bases are zero.

EDIT: Just opened a mid-turn save from yesterday and now PH shows 67 Flak. Huh?

Why would this (and artillery) change to zero and back again without any other number going to zero. Weird.

[cardas]

Ah, in that case it may potentially just be a display bug;

tm.asp?m=4088072

[Lokasenna]

Yes, that is just a display bug.

But I was going to say - your units aren't in Rest mode, are they?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

Yes, that is just a display bug.

But I was going to say - your units aren't in Rest mode, are they?

Nope. Every turn I check them out cause it's just weird that there are so few losses. It's like five planes a turn from ~150 bombing at 13k.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: cardas

Ah, in that case it may potentially just be a display bug;

tm.asp?m=4088072

Thanks. Good to know. I would not have wanted to redo anything to get it right. These early turns are a killer!! (not to mention tense and hanging on a thread, as I'll report soon!)

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 11, 1941[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font]A tense turn!!

The Lex and escorts were engaged by the Wake surface support group in the day, luckily just the old Tenryu CLs and Old Mutsuki DDs, and our cruisers got the better of the battle. By the air phase the IJN were out of range, but the Lex groups found other targets! [:)]

We weren't able to get to the Guam troops before landing unfortunately, so that base will fall next turn as usual. It wouldn't have changed much, but that TF has Tjsugaru, an AV and a bunch of PBs that are useful in the beginning and a good lot of points.

The air groups did find some decent targets. Two AMCs are hit hard. Troops on board so that is fantastic. [8D]

They also hit two bigger xAK at Saipan and a few of the Guam TF ships. While this kind of delay to the Japanese So Pac and Cent Pac conquests might be short lived, it could open door to delay other larger projects if the KB is needed to shepherd bigger tougher convoys into the area.

Now to see if Lex can survive. The four older Furetaka and Aoba class cruisers and their 4 DDs are out here somewhere, but haven't shown up in searches yet. [X(] Yikes!!

Evasive manoeuvres are ordered, and if we do avoid or escape relatively unscathed, there could be more fireworks in the naval strike department tomorrow too. The Enterprise is also just passing Wake and should close in on some of the action as well. The goal would be to join the two TFs and create a SCTF as well, then sail on where opportunity for mischief looks likely! [;)]

Fingers crossed it's not a night surface battle with IJN CAs ...
[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 11, 41
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Saipan at 118,96, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Shell hits 1
CA Portland
CA Chicago
CA Astoria, Shell hits 5
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson, Shell hits 1
DD Flusser
DD Porter

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
CV Lexington screened from combat
- escorted by DD Porter , DD Flusser , DD Lamson ,
DD Drayton , DD Mahan

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 113,96

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
494 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Kinryu Maru

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 108,93

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
TBD-1 Devastator x 8

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAK Nikki Maru, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nanman Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Nikki Maru

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Guam at 106,95

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 3
E7K2 Alf x 1
F1M2 Pete x 6

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 11
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Yokohama Maru
xAK Matsue Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK China Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kiyokawa Maru-1 with F1M2 Pete (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Kiyokawa Maru-2 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
Tsugaru-1 with E7K2 Alf (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 3000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 3000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Daifuku Maru

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 113,96

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Hakkaisan Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Kongo Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Hakkaisan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Oite

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Saipan at 108,93

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Nanman Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shofuku Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

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[Lovejoy]

It would be interesting to see if the Lexington scored any of those hits or fired her guns. IIRC her 8 inch gun turrets weren't removed until early 1942

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lovejoy

It would be interesting to see if the Lexington scored any of those hits or fired her guns. IIRC her 8 inch gun turrets weren't removed until early 1942

She did fire, but no hits from her. Watched the whole reply slowly, (nervously), and noted which ship was firing with each round. The USN cruisers landed all of the blows.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Dec 11, 1941[/font]

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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Our subs don't do much of anything either in the Pacific or in the Sulu of South China seas. Hoping they're saving that one working torpedo for the Akagi or the Kaga. [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]PACIFIC: [/font] More bombing by Kates at PH. The BBs keep taking the hits. No more sunk (yet).

Vindicators make it to Rabaul, which could prove useful in future. This turn they get two shots at escorting destroyers at Kaveing but miss everything. The invasion there is stalled by Allied troops for now, which is great. I've sent in some more to Wewak, aitape and other just invaded bases to see if we can't stall the small units and force a larger commitment there. I've moved PBY to Hollandia and will pull some of the Guam base force there as well, then try to get some Aussie units to defend the base. I'll send a small xAKL to try and supply it along the coast from Ambon. Good to have some eyes out here. Probably won't last, but worth a try.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]DEI: [/font]One of the more effective sub laid minefields I've seen in game was laid near Palembang. I've been trying to get mines there but had two minelayers sunk on the way, plus a DD and about four xAKL!! [X(] My AMc and a few other ships have picked up at least half of the mines and usually this makes the minefield "seen" so other ships can pass through unharmed. Not this time. Oh, well. At least no major units went that way, and the Dutch CM are pretty much a one shot deal since the pools are so low for them.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] Lots of troops moving around here. Pretty much all free base forces will be removed to the So Pac areas. I want to get started there, knowing the Alleis can push where they want for a year, but wanting to make those pushes a bit harder and slower if possible.

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 11, 41
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TF 539 encounters mine field at 49,90

Allied Ships
xAK Zannis Cambanis, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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TF 540 encounters mine field at 49,90

Allied Ships
xAKL Tatung, Mine hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Lyemun, Mine hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

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TF 553 encounters mine field at 49,90

Allied Ships
CM Gouden Leeuw, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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TF 537 encounters mine field at 49,90

Allied Ships
DD Jupiter, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

Magazine explodes on DD Jupiter
3 mines cleared

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Morning Air attack on Pearl Harbor , at 180,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 46

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40B Warhawk x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB California, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 2
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Repair Shipyard hits 1
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 13000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 13000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 13000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 106,122

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 14

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor at 180,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 13

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AMc Redbird
AMc Condor, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AMc Cockatoo, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Since the KB is away and the Ryujo is confirmed in the South China Sea, having DBs in So Pac might be very useful. If they can hit! [:D][/font]

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[geoffreyg]

I have now caught up to date and enjoying the AAR - I have in the past normally followed just from the Japanese perspective so this is all very interesting!

[Lecivius]

DD's are always very hard to hit, even with highly experienced aircrews. It's a PIA, but historical. On the bright side, if you ever DO hit, it hurts lots [8D]

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

DD's are always very hard to hit, even with highly experienced aircrews. It's a PIA, but historical. On the bright side, if you ever DO hit, it hurts lots [8D]

Yep. Got some the next turn! [:)]

[obvert]

The night was tough for the USN. Jeff likes to deploy 3 DD TFs and they had their way with the Allied Cruiser led forces. Marblehead did nothing, but even Boise and Houston were ineffective.

[obvert]

A few transports were hit but nothing serious. A LOT of four stackers lost for not much good.